Дети у Tелеэкрана

30 каналов кабельного телевидения буквально бомбардируют западногерманское население кинопродукцией насилия и жестокости. Обеспокоенные ученые предупреждают, что такой подбор программ превращает телевидение в разновидность наркотиков, которые отравляют в первую очередь детей.

А начинается все просто: для многих телевизор в семьях заменил нянек. Ребенка можно усадить в кресло перед экраном и спокойно заниматься своими делами, порой забывая о нем совсем. В США, например, дети до 12-летнего возраста успевают просмотреть около 80 тысяч сцен насилия. При этом не учитывались программы, которые дети смотрят на видеомагнитофонах.

Журнал «Штерн» провел свое собственное исследование. Было установлено, что в один день в течение 4 часов программа САТ-1 показала 42 сцены убийств и насилия. По данным западногерманского Института исследований проблем развития школы, ребенок проводит ежедневно у телевизора в среднем по два, а в выходные ― по четыре часа. Особенно сильное воздействие оказывает мутный поток с экрана на детей, которые растут в трудных условиях.

На все обвинения во вредном влиянии таких телепередач частные предприниматели отвечают, что они лишь стремятся удовлетворить запросы молодежи. «Мы не считаем, что каким-либо образом заменяем школьное воспитание. Наша цель ― развлечь людей. А ответственность за то, что смотрят дети, должны нести родители», ― заявил, например, представитель программы САТ-1 Ш.Рабе.

Мнения специалистов о степени воздействия телевидения на зрителей расходятся. Некоторые исследователи считают, что телевидение развивает интеллект ребенка с самого раннего возраста. Те, кто в 10―18 месяцев ползал перед включенным экраном, быстрее ориентируется потом в окружающем мире. Нельзя лишать детей удовольствия. Телевидение им необходимо. Мир ребенка и так ограничен многими запретами взрослых, которые забыли собственное детство. Поэтому он нуждается в своеобразном отдыхе, ему нужно порой уйти в мир фантазий. Но родители обязаны смотреть и обсуждать передачи вместе с детьми, если им не безразлично, какими они станут в будущем. Тяга к фильмам ужасов может иметь далеко идущие последствия, если родители не сумеют внушить детям, что конфликты можно решать другими путями, а не насилием. В противном случае, вырастая, ребенок начнет применять увиденное на экране в общении с другими людьми.

Такое развитие событий можно предотвратить, считают американские специалисты. Они провели долговременный эксперимент: 169 учеников начальной школы, которые особенно увлекались остросюжетными фильмами, были разделены на две группы. С одной из них в течение двух лет проводились регулярные беседы по просмотренным программам. Обсуждались возникавшие в фильмах конфликты, возможности их устранения без насилия. По окончании эксперимента было установлено, что эти дети гораздо менее агрессивны по сравнению с теми, которые попали во вторую группу, где никаких бесед не проводилось.

Во время дискуссий о частных телеканалах и кабельном телевидении предприниматели, да и многие политики заявляли, что оно становится общенациональной школой. Каждый новый канал, утверждали они, ― это новый собеседник в доме. Чем больше программ, тем больше информации. О негативных сторонах, как правило, «забывали», хотя еще в 1980 году западногерманский психолог Х.Штурм предупреждала, что это может привести к духовному обнищанию. Во Франции был проведен опрос 3000 детей. Им задавали один вопрос: кому или чему они отдали бы предпочтение ― родителям или телевизору? Почти каждый второй ребенок предпочел телевизор. Виновато ли в этом только телевидение?

T y p e s o f P r o g r a m m e s

Observe the speech behaviour of participants in different types of situation.

Weather Forecast

1. Good evening, and here is the weather forecast for tomorrow. Northern Scotland will be cold, and there may be snow over high ground. In the north of England it will be a wet day and rain may move into Wales and the Midlands during the afternoon. East Anglia will be generally dry, but it will be dull and cloudy.

In southern England it will be a bright clean day with sunshine, but it may rain during the evening. In the south west it may be foggy during the morning, but the afternoon will be clear. It may be windy later in the day.

2. Good evening, and here is the weather forecast for tomorrow. A mild southerly airflow persists across the country. It will be a cloudy day over Wales, western and northern parts of England with rain at times, some locally heavy over the hills. The rain will gradually clear during the afternoon. Remaining parts of England will start a little misty in places, but most areas will stay dry with bright or sunny intervals developing. Northern Ireland and Scotland will start cloudy with the rain clearing eastwards and brighter but showery weather following from the west. It will be a mild day everywhere particularly in the sunnier south-eastern parts.

3. Good evening, and here is the weather forecast for tomorrow. An Atlantic frontal system will affect many areas. The rather unsettled look to the weather will continue with most districts seeing further spells of rain. Eastern England will be windy at first with a few showers. Otherwise much of England and eastern Scotland will have a bright morning with a little sunshine. It will soon cloud over across Wales, Northern Ireland and western Scotland, with outbreaks of rain spreading from the west and on to remaining areas during the afternoon. It will be windy, especially over Scotland and at first over eastern England, but will stay relatively mild.

News

1. Good evening, and here is the Eight O’clock News.

Five thousand people marched through the streets of Chesilworth today protesting against plans for a new international airport near the town. Although there was such a large number of demonstrators, there was no trouble. The demonstrators marched to the town hall, where a public enquiry into the plans was taking place, and handed in a petition to the chairman of the enquiry. A new airport is needed because the other airports in the London area are overcrowded. Several sites for the new airport have been suggested, and Chesilworth was considered because it is near both a major motorway and a railway line. Although it was a protest march, there was almost a carnival atmosphere, and both demonstrators and police remained good-humoured.

Families were evacuated from four streets in the centre of Glasgow today, because of a gas explosion. The explosion occurred at ten a.m. in a deserted house in Mickle Street. Gas Board officials believe that the explosion was due to leaking gas. The house had been empty for several months, and they suspect that a gas main had cracked because of vibration from road-works in the street. Windows 100 metres away were broken by the blast. The police have forbidden anyone to enter the area until the Gas Board has completed tests.

Fernside Engineering announced today that they were closing their plant in Tadworth. Three hundred jobs will be lost because of the closure, which is due to a sharp decline in orders for their products. There have been rumours for several weeks that the plant might be closed, and in spite of lengthy discussions between unions and management, closure became inevitable because of the cancellation of several major orders. As well as the three hundred redundancies at Tadworth, union leaders predict further redundancies in the area, in firms which supply Fernside Engineering with components.

Reports are coming in of a 100 mph car chase through the roads of Hampshire. Police disturbed a gang of men who were breaking into a chemist’s in Lynford. However, the men escaped in a stoker Jaguar saloon, and the police chased them through the New Forest at high speed. The Jaguar was forced off the road near Bransley. The men were armed with shot-guns, but nevertheless police-officers chased them across a field. Several shots were fired. Fortunately, however, no one was injured, and the men were taken into custody.

And lastly, sport. Eastfield United are through to the next round of the European Cup after an exciting match in Scotland. Dunromin Rangers scored twice in the first half, and Eastfield were two down at half time, they went on to win with a hat trick by Trevor Franklin in the second half. Towards the end of the second half, Franklin was limping because of a knee injury, but nevertheless managed to score the winning goal one minute from time. The game was stopped twice because of fighting in the crowd, but in spite of the trouble, and in spite of the appalling weather, both teams played well. Viewers will be able to see highlights of the match after the news.

2. Oh eight hours GMT (Greenwich mean time). BBC World Service, the news read by Gordon Parker. The main news stories.

After a meeting of European foreign ministers in Brussels new and urgent efforts are being made to get the talks on world trade back on course.

The French President has strongly criticized the British government’s decision to delay ratification of the Maastricht Treaty on closer European unity.

Red Cross officials in Bosnia say they are about to attempt the evacuation of hundreds of people from the besieged capital Sarajevo.

In Colombia guerillas have reacted violently to the government’s announcement of a state of emergency.

New and urgent efforts are being made to avert a trade war between the United States and the European Community and to get the talks on liberalizing world trade back on course. At a meeting in Brussels European foreign ministers have agreed that negotiations with Washington should be resumed immediately, although they said American threats to impose punitive tariffs on some Community farm produce could only lead to retaliation…

President Mitterrand of France has strongly criticized the British government’s decision to delay ratification of the Maastricht Treaty on closer European union until after the Danish referendum on the issue. Speaking in a television interview he described the decision as unacceptable. President Mitterrand said that it went against previous undertakings by the British Prime Minister Mr. Major which indicated that the British Parliament would ratify the Treaty by the end of this year. A statement from Mr. Major’s office said the timing of legislation in Britain on the Maastricht Treaty was a matter for the British government.

The Russian President Mr. Boris Yeltsin on the second and last day of his visit to Britain is to address a joint session of both Houses of Parliament and have lunch with the Queen. The address follows yesterday’s signing of a treaty of friendship and cooperation, the first between Britain and Russia for two hundred years. President Yeltsin also visited the London Stock Exchange where he appealed for easier terms for repayment of his country’s huge debts. And he and the Prime Minister Mr. Major pledged their support for democracy in Russia at a banquet in London in Mr. Yeltsin’s honour.

The Bosnian Red Cross says it’s about to attempt the evacuation of up to six thousand people from the besieged Bosnian capital Sarajevo. The statement said convoys of buses would travel to the Serbian capital Belgrade and to the Adriatic Port of Split. The evacuation would take several days. Only persons with government approved documents would be allowed to leave. Men of fighting age would need permission from the military … .

This news comes to you in the World service of the BBC.

In a violent reaction to the imposition of a new state of emergency in Colombia rebel forces have sabotaged oil pipe lines, blown up a police command post, killed at least two people and clashed with security forces. The army has been sent to several areas to reinforce the police. The BBC correspondent in Bogota says the latest emergency decree aimed at confronting left-wing rebels and the drug cartels are expected to give the army powers of legal investigation. The state of emergency will allow the President

to take action without consulting the Congress and the courts. It has received support from most political parties, farmers and businessmen and from the church.

Lawyers in Trinidad, acting for three convicted killers who were originally due to be hanged in a few hours’ time, have obtained a temporary stay of execution …

And to end the world news here again are the main points.

European Community foreign ministers meeting in Brussels have said they want trade negotiations with the US to resume urgently. But they also warned the US that if it goes ahead with threats to impose punitive tariffs on some Community produce there’ll be a spiral of retaliation. …

President Mitterrand of France has strongly criticized the Brittish government’s decision to delay ratification of the Maastricht Treaty on closer European union until after the Danish referendum on the issue.

The Red Cross in Bosnia – Hercegovina says it’s planning to evacuate up to six thousand people from the capital Sarajevo later today. It’s only those with permission who’ll be able to leave the city.

And that’s the end of the news from London.

Typical Ways of Starting, Keeping Up and Ending

News Broadcasts

Beginning

Radio

- (Oh) eight hours GMT (Greenwhich mean time). / Sixteen hours GMT. BBC World Service. The news read by G.P. The main (news) stories. / The headlines. / The headline stories.

- Fourteen hours GMT. On the BBC, a summary of the news / a news summary. / The latest news summary.

- This is Newsdesk / Newsrell from the BBC World Service in London (with G.B.). It's now 07.18 GMT. And the main stories at present. …

- 07. 00 hours GMT. From the BBC World Service this is E.D. with Newsdesk.

- These are the main (news) stories from Newsdesk with P.C. and H.B.

- (And) now the British News. / (And) now news about Britain. / This is N.N. with the British news.

- Now Outlook presented by R.M.

- Hello and welcome.

- Hello, this is J.B. with the world business report.

- Financial news now.

Television

- This is the BBC (World Service News). Hello, I'm J.R. The headlines. / The main (news) stories.

- Hello. This is the BBC World Service News (at 5 0'clock GMT). The headlines. / The main (news) stories.

- And now the BBC world weather with P.K.

Continuation

Radio

- This news comes to you in the World Service of the BBC.

- You are listening to the world news.

- You are listening to Newsdesk (coming to you) in the World Service of the BBC.

Television

- You are watching the BBC World Service News. Coming up / later … / Still to come … . It's / That's after the break.

- Welcome back. Here's the world business news with M.S.

- Welcome back. And now with the latest business news here is S.N.

- That's all the international news. Next is the weather with P.K.

- Join me for the headlines after the weather with C.H.

- And that's all the international news. Coming up after the break is the business news with R.J.

- Welcome back. And now the round-up of business news. Here's D.M.

Ending

Radio

- Now to end the News here again are the main (news) points / stories / headlines … And that's (the end of) the world news (from London). / And this brings us to the end of this bulletin of world news from London.

- Now to end the news, the main (news) points / stories / headlines again … And that's (the end of) the world news (from London).

- Now before we end the news, our last look at the main stories … These headlines bring us to the end of this edition of Newsdesk. / That's Newsdesk.

- (And now to the end of this edition,) a reminder of the main (news) stories / headlines … And this brings to an end our edition of Newsreel. / And this ends our edition of Newsreel. / And that's the end of this edition of Newsreel.

- And that's the end of the British News / news about Britain / this edition of news about Britain.

- That's a summary of world news / of the main (news) points. And we are going to listen to a full bulletin of world news at 17.00. / You can hear more news on the BBC in 50 minutes.

- And that's the latest news summary.

Television

- Here's a reminder of / And I'll remind you of the main news / news stories … Join me at 6 o'clock. And that's all from the BBC newsroom for now. And that's all the BBC World Service news for the moment.

- Hello. The main news once more … We'll be back at 6 o'clock GMT. But for the moment that's it from the BBC newsroom. / And that's all from the BBC World Service newsroom for the moment. I'll be back in about 40 minutes.

Presentation of Reporters and Correspondents

- Now G.E. with the details.

- P.E. in New York has the details.

- The details from S.T. … That was S.T.

- A.B. has been watching / following the developments / events from Paris … A.B. in Paris.

- From Berlin S.M. reports. / S.M. reports from Berlin. / Reporting from Berlin is S.M. / S.M. sends us / has sent this report from Berlin … It / That was S.M. reporting from Berlin.

- Here's our diplomatic correspondent L.K. … Our diplomatic correspondent L.K.

- This is a report from our West African correspondent I.S. … I.S. reporting from West Africa.

Interview

1. A television interview. A group of teenagers are being interviewed. The topic is «Television and Its Effects on Us».

Interviewer: Philip: Catherine: Beverly: Ruth: Interviewer: Beverly: Philip: Adrienne: Ruth: Jessica: Ruth: Jessica: Interviewer: Philip: Roger: Philip: Interviewer: Jessica: Interviewer: Ruth: Margaret: Philip: Interviewer: Announcer: Sally: Announcer: Sally: Announcer: Sally: Announcer: Sally: Announcer: Sally: Announcer: Sally: Announcer: Smiles: Mrs. Leach: Smiles: Mrs. Leach: Smiles: Mrs. Leach: Smiles: Milton: Smiles: Milton: Smiles: Milton: Smiles: Milton: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Brian: Smiles: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master: Victoria: Quiz master:

Originally there was only one television channel in Britain; now there are four. Do you want any more channels? No. We would have too many American comedy programmes and thrillers. I think there should be a special channel for sport. There are only four channels, and two show sport all day on Saturday … And one more channel shows a Hollywood musical from the 1930s. I don't like sport or Hollywood musicals. In New York they have about forty television channels – it must be impossible to choose what to watch! People say that television kills conversation. Does it? Yes. When there was an electricity strike, we had no television and we all talked to each other much more in the evenings. I suppose television makes people think and talk more. Lots of documentary films about housing or old age make people argue and discuss things more. Comedy programmes don't do that. Everyone watches comedy … comedy can have more influence on viewers, not less. Television is terribly bad for people's eyes. Some American children spend more time in front of the television than in front of the teacher. Some people can't switch off. It's just like a drug; people get addicted to certain television series. Being addicted to television is the same as being addicted to a book. I was completely addicted to «The Forsyte Saga» and «War and Piece». I'm not ashamed of that. Too much television is bad for children. It's unhealthy: they don't get enough fresh air. But children's educational programmes have improved a lot lately. I'd encourage a child to watch a programme like Play School. It teaches the alphabet and arithmetic so that it all seems like a game. That's the way to teach young children. What about violence? The News is the most violent programme on television now. It's more violent than programmes about detectives or cowboys. People don't take any notice when cowboys are killed; they do when it's someone in Nothern Ireland. Violence looks even more violent on colour television. The sports commentators are more serious about things than newsreaders. Everything on the football pitch is either «a tragedy» or «the greatest moment in the history of football». We've lost our sense of proportion. And what about politics? When a politician is a good television actor, people vote for him. Political programmes are awful; they're on all four television channels at the same time. You can't escape. Do you like commercial television? I hate all those adverts. But the television company gets money from the adverts. People don’t believe what the adverts say, do they? They don’t believe all the washing powder adverts. If they do, they’re stupid. The firms who make washing powder spread a lot of money on the adverts. They realize there must be a lot of stupid people. 2. “The Circus Is Coming” This is RW 2, Watermouth’s own independent radio station. In the studio with me this morning is Sally Farnham, the daughter of circus owner, Bertie Farnham. Farnham’s circus will be here in Watermouth for two weeks. That’s right, isn’t it, Sally? Yes, that’s right. We open tomorrow for two weeks. Has the circus arrived yet, Sally? No, no. Not yet. It’s on the road somewhere between Sandpool and here. I suppose there’s a lot to be done between now and the first show. Yes, that’s right. I’ve already been here for three days. There were all the advance arrangements to be made. It’s like preparing for a small invasion. What sort of things have you done? Oh, there are so many things to be done, you know. There are posters to be put up, newspaper ads to be arranged, casual labour to be hired and so on. When will the circus actually arrive? In the next hour or so. The first trucks should be arriving any time now, and then the hard work really begins. Most people love the circus, don’t they? But not many realize how much work there is, do they? That’s right. We’ll be working all day and half the night. It’s a bit like moving a small army. But, fingers crossed, by tomorrow morning everything will have been set up in time for the afternoon performance. Oh, there’s the grand parade through the town centre at 11.30, so don’t forget to come and see us. Thank you, Sally, for coming in to talk to us. Now, don’t forget, folks. The grand circus parade will start from the pier at 11.30, go along the promenade, through the gardens and finish in Jubilee Park. Farnham’s Circus will be in town for two weeks until 28th August. Now for some music. Quiz 1. The Yes/No Contest Good evening! I’m Martin Smiles. Welcome to the Yes/No Contest. Now, the rules are very simple. I’m going to ask questions for 30 seconds, You mustn’t answer with “Yes” or “No”, and you mustn’t nod or shake your head. Well, here’s our first on contestant Mrs. Alice Leach from Nottingham. What’s your name? Alice… Alice Leach. Where are you from, Alice? Nottingham. Did you say “Birmingham”? No, Notting… Oh, dear, I’m sorry, Mrs.Leach. Now our next contestant is Ralf Milton, from Blackpool. It’s Mr.Milton, isn’t it? That’s right. Good… you aren’t nervous, are you? I’m not nervous. Did you shake your head? I didn’t. Are you sure? Yes… Oh… I’m dreadfully sorry. Better luck next time, Mr.Milton. Now, here’s our third contestant. It’s Brian Tankard from Bristol. Hello, Brian. Hello. You work in a bank, don’t you? That’s correct. Do you like your job? I enjoy it very much. Oh, do you? I said, “I enjoy it very much”. Now, you aren’t married, are you? I am married. Is your wife here tonight? She is at home. So she isn’t here. Of course not. Have you got any children? I’ve got two children. Two boys? A boy and a girl. And… That’s 30 seconds. Well done! You’ve done it. Isn’t that wonderful, everybody? He’s won tonight’s star prize … a brand-new fully automatic dishwasher! 2. Student Mastermind. Our next contestant on “Student Mastermind” is Victoria Bamber who is a student at Sandpool Comprehensive. I’ll just remind you of the rules, Miss Bamber. You have two minutes in which to answer as many questions as possible. If you do not know the answer, you should say, “Pass”. I shall then go on to the next question. If you answer incorrectly, I shall then give the correct answer. You will get one point for each correct answer. If two contestants have the same number of points at the end, the one who has the fewest number of passes will be the winner. Are you ready? Yes. Can you name the President of the United States whose early career was in Hollywood? Er… Reagan. Ronald Reagan. Correct. What is an instrument which shows the direction of north? A compass? Correct. Can you tell me the name of the sea where eels go to breed and die? Er… un… pass. Name the person who became the first woman prime minister of Britain? Mary… er, sorry… Margaret Thatcher. I’ll accept that. What is the date when the United States celebrates its independence? The fourth of July. Correct. What do we call a person who always expects the best to happen? Er… an optimist. Correct. Can you tell me the language which was spoken in the Roman Empire? Italian? No, wrong. The correct answer is Latin. What is the office people visit when they want advice about their marriage? Pass. Who was the Egyptian queen whose beauty was famous throughout the world? Cleopatra. That’s correct. What’s the newspaper column where Jobs are advertised? Er… the job adverts? Can you be more exact? No. I can’t think of it. I’m afraid I can’t give you that. We were looking for “Situations Vacant”. Now can you tell me… (DING) I’ve started, so I’ll finish. Can you tell me the name of the French Emperor whose final battle was at Waterloo? Napoleon Bonaparte. Correct. And at the end of that round Victoria Bamber has scored seven points. You passed on two. The sea where eels go to breed and die is the Sargasso Sea, and the office people visit when they want advise about their marriage is the “Marriage Guidance Council”. Thank you. Can we have our next contestant, please?

Chat Show

1. “This Is Your Life” is one of the most popular programmes on British and American television. Every week a famous person is invited to a television studio, without nowing that he or she will be the subject of the programme. The compère meets the person outside the studio and says: “This is your life!”. The person then meets friends and relatives from his or her past and present. The subject of tonight’s show will be an actor, Jason Douglas. The compère, as usual, will be Terry Donovan.

Terry: Jason: Terry: Jason: Terry: Jason: Terry: Jason: Terry: Mr. Hooper: Terry: Jason: Terry: Maria: Jason: Maria:

Good evening and welcome to “This is Your Life”. This is Terry Donovan speaking. We’re waiting for the subject of tonight’s programme. He’s one of the world’s leading actors, and he thinks he’s coming here to take part in a discussion programme… I can hear him now… yes, here he is! Jason Douglas… This is your life! Oh, no… I don’t believe it! Not me… Yes, you! Now come over here and sit down. Jason, you were born at number 28 Balaclava Street in East Ham, London on July 2nd 1947. You were one of six children, and your father was a taxi driver. Of course, your name was then Graham Smith. Now, do you remember this voice? “I remember Jason when he was two. He used to scream and shout all day”. Susan! Yes … all the way from Sydney, Australia … she flew here specially for this programme. It’s your sister, Susan Fraser! Susan … why didn’t you tell me … oh, this is wonderful! Yes, you haven’t seen each other for 13 years … take a seat next to him, Susan. You started school at the age of five, in 1952, and in 1958 you moved to Lane End Secondary School. Do you remember this voice? “Smith! Stop looking out of the window!” Oh, no! It’s Mr. Hooper! Your English teacher, Mr. Stanley Hooper. Was Jason a good student, Mr. Hooper? Eh? No, he was the worst in the class… but he was a brilliant actor, even in those days. He could imitate all the teachers! Thank you, Mr. Hooper. You can speak to Jason later. Well, you went to the London School of Drama in 1966, and left in 1966. In 1973 you went to Hollywood. Do you know this voice? “Hi, Jason… Can you ride a horse yet?” Maria! Maria Montrose … who’s come from Hollywood to be with you tonight. Hello, Jason … it’s great to be here. Hello, Terry. Jason and I were in a movie together in 1974, Jason had to learn to ride a horse … well, Jason doesn’t like horses very much. Like them! I’m terrified of them! Anyway, he practised for two weeks. Then he went to the director … it was Charles Orson … and said, “What do you want me to do?” Charles said, “I want you to fall off the horse”. Jason was furious. He said, “What! Fall off! I’ve been practising for two weeks … I could fall off the first day … without any practice!”

2. Moderator. Good evening, and welcome again to the “Michael Parkhurst Talkabout”. In tonight’s programme, we’re looking at the problem of energy. The world’s energy resources are limited. Nobody knows exactly how much fuel is left, but pessimistic forecasts say that there is only enough coal for 450 years, enough natural gas for 50 years and that oil might run out in 30 years. Obviously we have to do smth., and we have to do it soon!

I’d like to welcome our first guest, Professor Marvin Burnham of the New English Institute of Technology. Professor Burnham.

Burnham:

Well, we are in an energy crisis and we will have to do smth. quickly. Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) are rapidly running out. The tragedy is that fossil fuels are far too valuable to waste on the production of electricity. Just think of all the things you can make from oil! If we don’t start conserving these things now, it will be too late. And nuclear power is the only real alternative. We are getting some electricity from nuclear power-stations already. If we invest in further research now, we’ll be ready to face the future. There’s been a lot of protest lately against nuclear power- some people will protest at anything - but nuclear power- stations are not as dangerous as some people say. It's far more dangerous to work down a coal-line or a North Sea oil-rig. Safety regulations in power-stations are very strict. If we spent money on research now, we could develop stations which create their own fuel and burn their own waste. In many parts of the world where there are no fossil fuels, nuclear power is the only alternative. If you accept that we need electricity, then we will need nuclear energy. Just imagine what the world would be like if we didn't have electricity ― no heating, no lighting, no transport, no radio or TV. Just think about the ways you use electricity every day. Surely we don't want to go back to the Stone Age. That's what will happen if we turn our back on nuclear research. Moderator. Thank you, Professor. Our next guest is a member of CANE, the Campaign Against Nuclear Energy, Jennifer Hughes. Hughes. Right. I must disagree totally with professor Burnham. Let's look at the facts. First, there is no perfect machine. I mean, why do aeroplanes crash? Machines fail. People make mistakes. What would happen if there were a serious nuclear accident? And an accident must be inevitable ― sooner or later. Huge areas would be evacuated, and they would remain contaminated with radioactivity for years. If it happened in your area, you wouldn't get a penny in compensation. No insurance company covers nuclear risks. There are accidents. If the nuclear industry didn't keep them quiet, there would be a public outcry. Radioactivity causes cancer and may affect future generations. Next, nuclear waste. There is no technology for absolutely safe disposal. Some of this waste will remain active for thousands of years. Is that what you want to leave to your children? And their children's children? A reactor only lasts about 25 years. By the year 2000 we'll have "retired" 26 reactors in the UK. Next, terrorism. Terrorists could hold the nation to ransom if they captured a reactor. In the USA the Savannah River plant, and Professor Burnham knows this well, lost (yes, "lost") enough plutonium between 1955 and 1978 to make 18 (18!) atom bombs. Where is it? Who’s got it? I consider that nuclear energy is expensive, dangerous, and evil, and most of all, absolutely unnecessary. But Dr. Woodstock will be saying more about that. Moderator. Thank you, Jennifer. Now I’m very pleased to welcome Dr. Catherine Woodstock. She is the author of several books on alternative technology. Woodstock. Hello! I’d like to begin by agreeing with Jennifer. We can develop alternative sources of power, and unless we try we’ll never succeed. Instead of burning fossil fuels we should be concentrating on more economic uses of electricity, because electricity can be produced from any source of energy. If we didn’t waste so much energy, our resources would last longer. You can save more energy by conservation than you can produce for the same money. Unless we do research on solar energy, wind power, wave power, tidal power, hydroelectric schemes etc., our fossil fuels will run out, and we’ll all freeze or starve to death. Other countries are spending much more than us on research, and don’t forget that energy from the sun, the waves and the wind lasts for ever. We really won’t survive unless we start working on cleaner, safer sources of energy. Moderator. Thank you very much, Dr. Woodstock. Our final speaker, before we open the discussion to the studio audience, is Charles Wicks, MP, the Minister for Energy. Wicks. I’ve been listening to the other speakers with great interest. By the way, I don’t agree with some of the estimates of world energy reserves. More oil and gas is being discovered all the time. If we listened to the pessimists (and there are a lot of them about) none of us would sleep at night. In the short-term, we must continue to rely on the fossil fuels ― oil, coal and gas. But we must also look to the future. Our policy must be flexible. Unless we thought new research was necessary, we wouldn’t be spending money on it. After all, the Government wouldn’t have a Department of Energy unless they thought it was important. The big question is where to spend the money ― on conservation of present resources or on research into new forms of power. But I’m fairly optimistic. I wouldn’t be in this job unless I were an optimist!

R O L E P L A Y

Exercise 1. Based on the dialogue “Likes and Dislikes”.

(1) Act out the opening scene.

Norman asks Gary if the latter regularly listens to the radio. Gary answers in the affirmative, but then he adds that he does not listen to all programmes indiscriminately. He goes on to explain to his interlocutor that he switches on his radio to listen in to particular broadcasts and does not have the radio on all the time. It turns out that Norman has the radio on as a habit, but his wife likes having the radio on during the day while she is busy doing housework. Gary wishes he could do the same because he really likes radio. Unfortunately, he cannot do this on account of the specific sort of work he does at home.

(2) Act out the next scene:

Norman wants to know what programmes Gary listens in to. Gary says in reply that the broadcast he is fond of is the News and he listens to it from beginning to end. Norman puts in a remark at this point expressing his doubt whether it is wise to do it, as, in his opinion, it takes too much time. But Gary completely disagrees with Norman about it, saying that if one closely listens to news broadcasts one can only glance through the newspapers later and thus save time. However, Norman is not convinced by his interlocutor’s argument and sticks to his own point of view. Then, in order to keep the conversation going, Norman asks Gary if the News is the only broadcast he likes. The reply is in the negative. It turns out that Gary is also keen on music, he prefers classical music. As far as rock and pop music is concerned; he does not like it at all. Moreover, he prefers to listen to concerts of classical music on the radio rather than watch them on television, as in this case he can concentrate on the music itself and there is nothing interfering with it. Norman agrees with his interlocutor up to a point. He believes that it is true only of classical music, but not of rock music, for instance. In the latter case one should not only listen to the music but also watch the performance. Then Norman invites Gary’s opinion about quiz shows and panel discussion. Gary replies that he makes a point of listening in to them, because they are informative and amusing at the same time.

(3) Act out the final scene:

Norman maintains that radio has its limitations. In his opinion, there are certain events which ought to be shown on television, but cannot be satisfactorily presented on the radio. Amongst them are sporting events. And Gary entirely agrees with him on the point. Then Norman and Gary go on to talk about their likes and dislikes, where television programmes are concerned. They happen to have different views on the question. Gary makes it a point to watch screen versions of well-known books, especially classics, whereas Norman has an aversion to such productions. Each of them offers arguments to substantiate his point of view. At the end they touch on the problem of serials.

Exercise 2. Based on the dialogue “Likes and Dislikes”.

Act out the whole situation.

Exercise 3. Act out the following scene.

Situation: In Mr. Wright’s house.

Roles: Role 1- Mr. Wright; Role 2- Richard, Mr.Wright’s son.

Style: Role 1 (Mr. Wright) – neutral; Role 2 (Richard) – informal.

Attitudes: Role 1 (Mr. Wright) – patient, instructive;

Role 2 (Richard) – impatient, aggressive.

Description of Situation:

Role 1 (Mr. Wright). Mr. Wright comes into the living room to find his son, Richard, sitting in front of the television. His son is watching a concert of rock music. Mr. Wright does not like this sort of music. Moreover, he is eager to watch a film, a screen version of a classic, which is going to be shown in a quarter of an hour. That’s why he tries to persuade his son to change to another channel to watch the film. He presents various arguments characteristic of parents.

Role 2 (Richard). Richard is in the living room watching television when his father comes in. A concert of rock music is being televised. He is absorbed in the performance, because he is very keen on this kind of music. He is reluctant to listen to what his father is telling him. He does not like the idea of turning to another channel to watch some highbrow film. Richard detests such films. He answers back to his father. He refutes (as it seems to him) all his father’s arguments and puts forward his own.

Exercise 4. Act out the following scene.

Situation: In Mary’s living room.

Roles: Role 1 – Mary, a friend of Mike’s; Role 2 – Mike, a friend of Mary’s.

Style: Role 1 (Mary) - informal; Role 2 (Mike) – informal

Attitudes: Role 1 (Mary) – friendly, interested;

Role 2 (Mike) – friendly, interested.

Description of Situation:

Role 1 (Mary). Mary is in the living room talking to a friend of hers, Mike. They are speaking about television. Mary asserts that she can watch television for hours on end. It does not matter to her what to watch; she likes everything. She cites a number of programmes and points out their features which appeal to her. On the whole, television is like a good companion to her.

Role 2 (Mike). Mike is in the living room talking to Mary. The topic of their conversation is television. He disagrees with Mary about the point in question. He tries to refute her arguments. In his opinion, there are few broadcasts worth watching and he presents his arguments in support of his ideas.

Exercise 5. Act out the following scenes.

(1) Situation: A radio interview.

Roles: Role 1 – Mr. Hutchinson, a politician being interviewed;

Role 2 – Mr. Webster, a radio reporter conducting the interview.

Style: Role 1 (Mr. Hutchinson) – formal; Role 2 (Mr. Webster) – formal.

Attitudes: Role 1 (Mr. Hutchinson) – self –assured, polite;

Role 2 (Mr. Webster) – inquisite, polite.

Topic being discussed: Politics on the radio.

(2) Situation: A television interview.

Roles: Role 1 – Mr. Thompson, a popular sportsman being interviewed; Role 2 – Mr. Drexler a TV reporter conducting the interview.

Style: Role 1 (Mr. Thompson) – neutral; Role 2 (Mr. Drexler) – neutral.

Attitudes: Role 1 (Mr. Thompson) – shy, self-conscious;

Role 2 (Mr. Drexler) – talkative, patronizing.

Topic being discussed: Sports coverage on television.

(3) Situation: A television interview.

Roles: Role 1 – Mr. Jackson, a film star being interviewed;

Role 2 – Mr. Baxter, a TV reporter conducting the interview.

Style: Role 1 (Mr. Jackson)- informal; Role 2 (Mr. Baxter) – informal.

Attitudes: Role 1 (Mr. Jackson) - self-assured, boastful;

Role 2 (Mr. Baxter) - active, interested.

Topic being discussed: Films and plays on television.

Exercise 6. Act as a radio announcer. Prepare and give a weather forecast.

Exercise 7. Act as a newsreader. Prepare and present a news broadcast.

F O L L O W - U P D I S C U S S I O N

Exercise 1. Talk to your partner on the following topics. Present your arguments in support of your point of view.

1. Radio (television) in this country and elsewhere.

2. The advantages and disadvantages of radio (television).

3. The advantages of television over radio and the advantages of radio over television.

4. Your favourite radio (television) programmes.

5. Listening to music on the radio and television.

6. The problems of adapting famous books, especially classics, for radio and television.

7. The advantage of reading a book over watching its dramatized version on television (or listening to it on the radio).

8. Television serials and television series. Their merits and drawbacks.

9. Television, the theatre and the cinema: peaceful coexistence or fierce, unscrupulous competition.

10. The influence of the mass media in general and radio and television in particular on people.

11. Radio (television) as the cause of conflicts in the family.

12. Television and children.

Exercise 2. Prepare and present a panel game dealing with radio (television) – its origin, history, programmes, etc. – in this country and elsewhere. Act as question master.

Exercise 3. Get ready to take part in a panel game dealing with radio (television) – its origin, history, programmes, etc. – in this country and elsewhere. Act as a contestant.

Exercise 4. Prepare and present a panel discussion about problems of radio (television) in this country and elsewhere. Act as question master.

Exercise 5. Get ready to participate in a panel discussion about problems of radio (television) in this country and elsewhere. Act as a panellist.

Radio and Television = Радио и Tелевидение

Учебно-методические материалы для студентов II курса

отделения английского языка переводческого факультета